The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - DEADLINE DAY 31st August 2021

[ikky]

Many people saying we haven’t replaced Bale’s goals. Was there no way of retaining him this season? Or was it out of our hands?

 

[Metalhead]

I thought last summer with Bale, Rodon, Hojbjerg, Vinnie, Doherty, Regulion, Hart most thought it was good/ok minus the Skriniar deal falling through.

Actually yes that did seem to go over ok - I wonder if expectations were lower because of the lack of revenue coming in at the time (obviously I guess that we are still going to be facing that issue for some time yet) but obviously out of all of them, only Reggy and Hojbjerg really worked out (jury out on Rodon).

 

[THOWIG]

The idea that had we signed Traore we’d be challenging for top 4 is just deluded. Have people seen the City, United, Liverpool and Chelsea squads? They are ridiculous.

Top 4 can’t be an ambition for us this season. Top 5 or 6 maybe, but we are going to have 2 or 3 seasons of rebuilding and pushing for those top positions once again. We’re putting ourselves at the forefront of signing the best young talent again which is exciting as it’s one of our best chances of long term success.

It’s clear we don’t have the money to invest this summer and what we’ve managed to do is very clever. I would have loved to have seen another central midfielder join, but that hasn’t happened so Ndombele and Lo Celso must now step up. In truth there aren’t many better out there on the market currently, but they need to show more. A striker, wing/forward would have been ideal also, but there are so few good ones around. Luckily there are some excellent younger players in those positions coming through who I’m sure we are monitoring.

We need to forget where we were 2 or 3 seasons ago and look at where we could be in 2 or 3 seasons time.

 

[Rob]

If Son is considered the backup striker, that means when we don't play Kane we end up playing our backup main striker (Son) and also our backup attacker (whoever then replaces Son in his actual position).

So without Kane, we're basically playing our entire second string attack rather than just slotting in a replacement for Kane.

 

[SpursSince1980]

Am i the only one secretly holding out for either a news outlet or one of our ITKers suddenly saying: 'Wait one minute... maybe we're not done after all'??

I know. I know. But I will continue to hold out hope, even though my head tells me, 'Shut up. We're done.'!!

 

[cider spurs]

We have made 5 very good signings and moved 5 deadwood players out. We are top of the league and have not conceded a goal beating the champions in the process. I really do wonder how many of you cope in the adversities that life throws at you.

I got this.

We blame Dele.

 

[parklane yid]

What surprises me is that so many here wanted kane sold so we can sign two new players that are unproven and would score half the goals Kane would. I think this window has been a success due to the fact Kane stayed alone

 

[lukadownthelane]

I just don't buy into the idea that CL qualification can only be achieved by spending big. £60m spent on Ndombele rather proves the point. It's about who we buy, not how much we spend.

I don’t think he’s saying we need to spent big money on players. I think he’s saying we need to fix all the issues in the squad so it can challenge. Good scouting (and also trusting them) and cutting losses on players could do that.

 

[markiespurs]

If Levy has vetoed these deals then what the bloody hell is the point in a director of football?

 

[hellava_tough]

Ings and Daka were both big mistakes from what should have bee achievable targets.

I thought Adam Armstrong was worth a punt...at £15m and only 24, we'd probably get most of that back if he wasn't up to it.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

If Son is considered the backup striker, that means when we don't play Kane we end up playing our backup main striker (Son) and also our backup attacker (whoever then replaces Son in his actual position).

So without Kane, we're basically playing our entire second string attack rather than just slotting in a replacement for Kane.

Domino burnout

 

[Snarfalicious]

It's poor that we don't have a back-up CF.

Are we the only club in the PL without 2 established strikers at the club?

Man City doesn't have any, technically. They like Gabriel Jesus better out wide and have been shoe-horning Torres there. Liverpool have Firmino and Origi. I'd take Son over Origi as a backup striker. Chelsea have Lukaku and Werner. Again, I'd take Son over Werner. The bigger issue is our overall depth in attack, not just center forward. You can get away with not having the prototypical center-forward types like Kane/Lukaku, etc. Problem is we don't have a lot of quality depth in attack just yet. At least depth that we can trust to step up and fill the void of goal production should Son (or Kane) go down with injury. I still believe Bergwijn is going to come on leaps and bounds this year, though. I understand some people completely disagree with that assessment.

 

[mdharris]

A pretty frustrating end to the window. Thanks to the mods and the ITKs for the work. It’s clear that pretty much everyone is disappointed no matter where you stand.

With the addition of Romero we have the best defender in Serie A last year, and in the team of the tournaments for Copa America. That is a major improvement. I have seen literally nothing of Emerson. But with double digit assists in la Liga last season, he should be a starter in games where we are expected to win and should be a source of chances. The rest probably won’t have a major impact in the near term in the league (though Gil looks promising). We’ve kicked the can 6-12 months with regards to another striker and some midfield creativity. Both of those are key if we want a well-rounded / strong side for years to come.

Im hoping that Nuno can continue the form of a tight defense, and start to eke out more goals from Bergwijn, Dele, Son. We’ve made a good start and Romero/ Emerson should immediately improve that side.

Lets hope now with 4 months of lead-up, Paratici can work some magic in the January transfer window. Though Levy may quash those efforts as well.

 

[TorontoYid]

Looks like if we are not buying him Traore might be be off to the Gooners

 

[chelmyid]

If Son is considered the backup striker, that means when we don't play Kane we end up playing our backup main striker (Son) and also our backup attacker (whoever then replaces Son in his actual position).

So without Kane, we're basically playing our entire second string attack rather than just slotting in a replacement for Kane.

I would add to this that over the past seasons it has been deemed necessary to have back up - jansen/Lorente/vini

We had sonny as well

so what’s changed this summer……

absolute negligence - would love to know why levy was apparently dragged to see uncle Joe - appears to be nothing more than a Jimmy saville cuddle!

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Man City doesn't have any, technically. They like Gabriel Jesus better out wide and have been shoe-horning Torres there. Liverpool have Firmino and Origi. I'd take Son over Origi as a backup striker. Chelsea have Lukaku and Werner. Again, I'd take Son over Werner. The bigger issue is our overall depth in attack, not just center forward. You can get away with not having the prototypical center-forward types like Kane/Lukaku, etc. Problem is we don't have a lot of quality depth in attack just yet. At least depth that we can trust to step up and fill the void of goal production should Son (or Kane) go down with injury. I still believe Bergwijn is going to come on leaps and bounds this year, though. I understand some people completely disagree with that assessment.

The point is, those other teams have strength in depth. We don’t.

 

[TorontoYid]

Is your first name Dick or are you just one?

Ok Guys/Gals/Whatever you identify as as long as it isn't and Arsenal Fan
Lets be nice for the last little bit of the window

 

[G Ron]

Winning 3 games by a score of 1-0 has seemingly been Levy's justification to stop investing in the squad, on the basis that it's clearly good enough.

We've been here before, where a string of good results were used as justification for not continuing to invest, and look how that turned out.

It's not good enough, it's sloppy bordering on the negligent, and shows that lessons have not been learned at exec level when it matters.

If you want to take people's frustration and disappointment at the same old shit being rolled out and frame it as them being somehow mentally unstable and unequipped to deal with life's hardships then that's on you, but other than in the minds of a small band of pro-Levy simps, you're not saying anything vaguely impressive or appropriate.

Fucking great post. Worth a thousand winners - I could not agree more.
Hope the first day at the new job went well ??

 

[Tucker]

As annoying as Levy’ meddling is, and it’s unforgivable so please don’t take this as a defensive of him. But some of the blame also has to land at Paratici’s door too doesn’t it? Failed to get a back up striker, failed to get a creative midfielder. I get that Levy fucked up the Traore deal, and we couldn’t afford Martinez or Vlahovic but not to have a proper alternative forward target?

Come on, that’s a massive massive blunder imo.

 

[THOWIG]

If Son is considered the backup striker, that means when we don't play Kane we end up playing our backup main striker (Son) and also our backup attacker (whoever then replaces Son in his actual position).

So without Kane, we're basically playing our entire second string attack rather than just slotting in a replacement for Kane.

Or we play with 3 interchangeable forwards like Moura, Bergwijn and Gil for example.
City have one striker. Liverpool I’d argue only have one who they never play.
It’s not ideal I know but there are so few good strikers around. There are 2 or 3 really good younger ones though coming through.